Bread rack



Aug. 9, 1927.

v1,638,173 J. D. SPAULDING ET AL BREAD RACK Filed July 20. 1925 f6 u 12C/7 /6 Patente-d Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN D. SPAULDING AND BOHUMIL BOUDA, OF CLINTON, IOWA, ASSIGNORS TO THE COLLIS COMPANY, OF CLINTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

i BREAD RACK.

Application filed July 20, v1.925. Serial No. 44,861;

This invention relates to a rack adaptedl especially to receive bread loaves, although it may be advantageously used for other purposes, if desired. By the improvements of our invention, we have produced a rack which is simple, easily assembled, and ca pable of having its several shelves, individually tilted and held in a suspended position when-V ever it is desired increase the intervening spaces for purposes of loading or unloading.'

A preferred embodiment oflthis invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the rack showing the three uppermost shelves tilted with two others therebelow in the normal or horizontal position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rack;

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of one of the means byi'which the shelves are supported in either normal or tilted position; and

Fig. l is a similar view ofa modified form of supporting` means.

The rack structure may comprise aframe having four corner uprights. those at the front being designated as 5 and the rear ones as 6. All four uprights are connected at their tops to a rectangular frame 7 and at their bottom to a base 8 of similar shape which preferably is mounted on caster wheels 9 whereby the entire rack may be moved about with ease. The several rack parts just described,`may be produced from metal having, by preference, an appropriate .angular cross section.

Included in the rack structure are also a plurality of superposed shelves. Each `of these may be provided with a rectangular frame having a front bar 10, a rear bar 11,

and two ends 12. Stretched across each shelf frame is a suitable body consisting preferably of wiresl which are suitably spaced to provide a desired support for the intended load.

Each shelf above the one at the bottom is tiltably supported between the four nprights of the rack frame, in part by means of a pair of link bars 14 having pivotal connections with the rear uprights 6 as at 15 and with the shelf frame near their rear corners as at 16. The length of each link is shown to be slightly less thany the spacing between the shelves. Additional supports sible.

for the front of each shelf are also provided, and, according to Fig. 3 these may take the formy of studs 17 each having a head 18, these several studs being secured to the inner sides of the front uprights 5. These studs are so located as to afford a rest for, the front of each frame end 12 wherein we preferably form a notch 19 which may lit over the ass0- ciated stud. By means ksuch as this,` the shelf is prevented from moving rearwardly unless its front be first raised to disengage from'the two supporting studs; and rigidity is also imparted to the entire structure due to the stud head engaging` with the inner side of each shelf end.`

It is manifest that other forms of support may be substituted for the stud shown in' Fig. 3. For exa1nple,"a'lug bent into the form of a hook may be used, as suggested in Fig.V l. Here we have provided a plate 20 laterally bent into a rest 21 from which upstands in spaced 'relation to the upright 5 a hook 22 which may have a beveled edge 23. Upon this rest the frontend rof the shelf frame end 12 is adapted to be vsupported with thehook 22 disposed to the rear of the front bar 10. The manner in which the lug co-operates with the shelf is exactly the same as has been described in connection with Fig. 3, so that further comment is Yunnecessary. v

Preliminary to loading the rack, it will be found convenient to tilt all the shelves except the one at the bottom which is fixed in its mounting on the rack. Commencing at the top where two extra supporting rests are provided, the shelves arevdisengaged along their front edges, then raised to the next higher set of studs or lugs, and then pulled forwardly to engage non-slidingly therewith. This tilting of the shelves involves also a slight forward movement which the link suspension at the rear makes pos- After each shelf is filled, the one above is dropped to load-carrying posit-ion, until the entire rack is loaded. This operation of placing upon the shelves the contents desired is greatly facilitated by increasing the space at the front through which the articles are moved to their position upon each shelf, and for this reason the presentl construction possesses `special advantages. It is manifest, of course, that the operating lof unloading these same shelves will involve merely a reversal of the steps described.

lt'is possible7 of course, topvary from the exact construction shown in carrying out our invention the essence of which is the provision at the rear shelf edge of a support which .is both swinging and sliding, and at the front shelll edge of a rest with which the shelf may engage loosely yet without capacity of sliding thereupon.

We claim:

1. In a rack, the combination of front and rear supports, a sheli' having a rectangular frame with one corner adjacent each support, a pair oit' links pivotally and swingingly connecting the rear corners of the Shel-i frame to the two rear supports, a rest projecting inwardly "from one oit the front supports, a second rest also projecting inwardly 'from one of the front supports but at a point of higher elevation, the shelf being movable to engage with either rest and means whereby the shelf when placed on either rest is prevented irom sliding thereupon, substantially as described.

2. ln a rack, the combination of front and rear supports, a shelf having its rear edges swingingly and slidingly mounted between the rear supports-1, double means pro viding selective mountings upon the front supports at two elevations for the forward edge of the shell, and means whereby the 'forward edge of the shelf may engage nonslidingly with either mounting, substantially as described.

3. In aracl, the combination offrent and rear supports, a shelf connected for sliding and swinging movement with the rear supports, and means also connecting the shelf loosely with the front supports in a manner to prevent relative movement in any direction except vertically and then only in one direction, substantially as described.

4l. Vln a rack, the combination of front and rear supports each comprising a pair of uprights, a plurality of superposed shelves carried by the supports, Ymeans whereby the lowermost shelf is xedly secured to the supports, and a tiltable mounting for the remaining shelves comprising for each a pair ot `freely movable links pivotally connected thereto adjacent one edge andpivotally connected also to onepair of uprights, and means extending ixedly and laterally from the other pair of uprights to interlock with the opposite free edge of each shell7 cachot said last named means being adapted to engage loosely with one shelf when horizontally'disposed or with an adjacent shelf when tiltably disposed and interlocking therewith in a manner to prevent forward or rearward movement of said shelf, the linl; connections permitting such movements only whenv said free edge is disengaged romthe means last named7 substantially as described. j y Y JOHN D. SPAULDING. BOHUMIL BOUDA. 

